Water Saving Tips

Inside Your Home

Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave instead of running water over it.

If you have a swimming pool, get a cover. You'll cut the loss of water by evaporation by 90%.

Only run the dishwasher and clothes washer when they are fully loaded.

Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Dripping faucets can waste about 2,000 gallons of water each year. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons each day.

Use a broom, rather than a hose, to clean sidewalks and driveways.

When washing dishes by hand, use two basins - one for washing and one for rinsing rather than let the water run.

Outside Your Home

Aerate clay soils at least once a year to help the soil retain moisture.

Avoid planting turf in areas that are difficult to irrigate properly such as steep inclines and isolated strips along sidewalks and driveways.

Collect rain water in a barrel and use it to water your garden (please note, this is not a legal practice in all areas).

Don't over water your lawn. Only water every three to five days in the summer and 10 to 14 days in the winter.

Maintain a lawn height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches to help protect the roots from heat stress and reduce the loss of moisture to evaporation.

Mulch around plants, bushes and trees to help the soil retain moisture, discourage the growth of weeds, and provide essential nutrients.

Plant in the spring or fall, when watering requirements are lower.

Promote deep root growth through a combination of proper watering, aerating, appropriate fertilization, thatch (grass clippings) control, and attention to lawn height. A lawn with deep roots requires less water and is more resistant to drought and disease.

To prevent water loss from evaporation, don't water your lawn during the hottest part of the day or when it is windy.

Use porous materials for walkways and patios to keep water in your yard and prevent wasteful runoff.

When choosing plants, keep in mind that smaller ones require less water to become established.